Does anyone have any information as to how Antonio husband of Infanta Eulalia lost his fortune as I understand his inheritence from the Duke of Montpensier made him one of the richest men in Spain.
You are right, after the death of his father, Antonio de Orleas became a very rich man.
He recived a substantial amount of money deposited in english banks, also, the Palace of Sanlúcar de Barrameda and the majority of the andalous country estates (excepted the Palace of Villamanrique and the Palace of San Telmo), he inherited also all the italian estates anexed to the Ducad of Galliera with all his palaces, castles and their importants rents.
His marriage with the Infanta Eulalia, was a true disaster, and after their separation he had a crazy life and became to squander his fortune.
When his two sons becamed adults, and suspected the destiny of the money, intented to know the true, but they hadn´t an answer, finally thy had to put the fact on Justice´s hands . Don Antonio had to draft a document indicating the stopping-place, and the value of all the lost goods.
The list was:(chifres in 1919)
Given to Carmela (one of his lovers)*3.750.000 Pesetas deposited in the Coutts Bank of London.
*800.000 Ptas. of the sale of a Goya´s painting "Las majas del balcón".
*125.000 Ptas. of the sale of El Greco´s painting
*500.000 Ptas. of the sale of others paintings.
*150.000 Ptas. of a country estate in Sanlúcar
*225.000 Ptas. to built a house in Sanlúcar.
*800.000 Ptas. for a pearl collier
*60.000 Ptas. for a broch with brilliants.
*30.000 Ptas. for a broch with pearls
*600.000 Ptas. for a house in Paris
*150.000 Ptas for the furnitures of this house.
*200.000 Ptas.of the sale of several trapestrys
*125.000 Ptas. to buy the house of El Maestre
*125.000 Ptas. to built a basement
*9.995.600 Ptas. in other things he didn´t remember.
Given to Mlle de Chardonnet (an other lover)*2.000 Francs every month when he knowed her in 1915
*3.000 Fr. every month between 1916 and 1917
*4.000 Fr. every month in 1918
Others*144.000 francs and 4.000.000 Ptas in the value of houses and objects.
Since 1919, he lived under the guardianship of his eldest son Alfonso. He died in Paris in 1930, he is burried in El Escorial.